Climate change, population growth, and public opinion are just some of the factors driving Environmental Public Health (EPH) to strategically incorporate sustainable policy into the way we do business. Sustainability can be defined in two ways as it relates to EPH policy. In the first definition, sustainable policy means that it can live, breath, and evolve with the changing times and technology. Policies should have the backbone to persist, yet the surface should be moldable to changing data and technology. In the second definition, sustainable policy must address the protection and enhancement of our most critical resources such as water, food, and air safety. For example, finding ways to protect our drinking water resources while also improving the quality is paramount to our future.
This presentation will take a systems thinking approach to identifying some of the primary issues surrounding EPH sustainable policy development. We will examine why in some areas EPH has lacked a true leadership role as well as determining the leverage points where EPH leadership can swing the momentum. The case will be made for developing a shared vision among EPH, elected officials, and the community to build truly sustainable policy. This process will identify a method for identifying and evaluating stakeholders that are important in policy development, grant writing, and building efficiencies within current structures. The audience will be introduced to some of these and other systems thinking tools that can help in isolating the source of an issue and then follow up with realistic solutions.
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